"Holiday Sentinel"

placed in home near hearth
adorned with season's jewels
bringing joy to all

pen and ink
8 1/2" X 11" sketchbook page

"For Sarah"

I have a wonderful coworker and friend, Sarah, who is retiring this month.  Her favorite flower is hydrangea. Wanting to give her something that she might find "special", I decided to create a garden scene featuring hydrangeas.  

My study of an hydrangea blossom:

  graphite, pen and ink on sketchbook page

Then I did a value and composition study  for the painting:

Now, my painting and haiku:

down a garden path
remembering my dear friend
her favored flower



acrylic on composite panel
 7" X 5" 
GIFTED
 

"Golden Fall"

golden covering
leaf pile memories return
falling into joy

acrylic on canvas
12" X 12"

"By the Pond"

walking by the pond
water trickle buzzing bees
sweet scented summer

acrylic on canvas
20" X 16"

SOLD

"Picnic"

picnic in the park
blue-sky day with cypress stumps
basking in the sun





















These plein air drawings were done in Greenfield Park in Wilmington, NC. 
Both are graphite applied to pages in my sketchbook.

Painting from Plein Air Sketches

Here are two plein air sketches that I did in Julian Price Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway. On this lovely morning I drew the first one in a more literal/representational way as a "warming-up" exercise.  Then, responding on an inspirational/intuitive level the second sketch came to life.  Later, back in my studio, I created the painting "Brookside" .

"Good Times"

strong and graceful gate
just a brake from here to there
good life on both sides

acrylic on panel
10 5/8" X 16"

Gifted

"Brookside"

early light breaks forth
earthy scents and brook made sounds
sketching in the park

acrylic on canvas
16" X 20"

"Sunlit Meditation"

meditating place
warmth and peaceful solitude
our sunlit garden

oil on canvas
24" X 36"
SOLD
Commission delivered and new owners quite pleased with my interpretation of their back garden!

"To Say Thank You"

scented pristine white
a thank you for our luncheon
such a thoughtful gift

Mixed Media (graphite, wax crayon, acrylic, felt markers)
on paper

I haven't posted anything in a while because I've been working on some commissions (I'll post when finished.).  However,yesterday, while my grandsons were creating in my studio (they love Papa's studio!), I created too.  Phoebe and Bill had sent us these beautiful lilies after attending our summer luncheon last Saturday.  I just couldn't let this wonderful opportunity of "capturing" them in my own way pass me by.  So, while Jacob (8 yrs.) painted a very symmetrical composition with primary colors (looks like a rectangular mandala), and Zachary (6yrs.) a rabbit standing by a tree, I used mediums at hand applying them to a sketchbook page.  I think having my boys around inspires me to be as "free" as they are with spontaneous creativity and use of any medium.
We always have so much fun!

"City Summer"

light filled soft white clouds
float over our fair city
crepe myrtles blooming

oil on canvas
20" X 20"

"Rare Moment on Fourth Street"

driving down fourth street
toward the center of town
a quiet moment

oil on canvas

16" X 20"
GIFTED

"Kissed"

quiet moment as
kissed by late light and shadow
we prepare to rest

oil on canvas
20" X 16"
Gifted
I gave this to my great niece as a wedding gift.

"Springs Height"

sun beams through the trees
azalea color peaks
warm days and cool nights

Acrylic on Canvas
20" X 16"
Gifted

"Guide"

young deodara
ancient arches portal seed
showing us the way

Acrylic on Canvas
16" X 20"

SOLD

"Epworth Copse"

glorious morning
warm glow on trees, leaves and grass
tracing new patterns

acrylic on canvas
20" X 16"

Gifted

"Winter's Sunset Field"

winter's setting sun
golden glow upon the earth
almost dinner time

acrylic on canvas
16" X 20"

Gifted

"Not Too Long Now?"

no, spring is not here
yet swelling buds and longer
days tease us with warmth

acrylic on canvas panel
12" X 16"

"Daybreaking"

soft day breaking light rising on crape myrtle's leaves season's ending act oil on canvas 16" X 20"

SOLD

"Memories of Fort Fisher"

hot windy shore stroll
where live oaks withstood thus far
so many hard storms

I painted this for my great niece and her husband as a wedding gift. They live very near this site and enjoy the beauty and atmosphere of this part of our planet-coastal North Carolina-me too! There are many "live oaks" that have been shaped by the prevailing sea-born winds and they have survived every hurricane and climate change, thus far, along this beautiful shoreline of our continent. This painting is from my memories of many visits to this location.
Oil on Canvas
Diptych: 40" X 16"
GIFTED

"Bolton's Pine"

warm the sunlit day
as we gaze at Bolton's pine
we know it's great strength

Oil on Canvas
12" X 9"
SOLD

"Purpure"

day's warmth surrounds as
we observe purpure blossoms
and inhale springs gift

Oil on Canvas
12" X 9"

SOLD